California Avenue Optometry

About California Ave Optometry

California Ave Optometry and Contact Lens Clinic is an independent eye care practice at 456 South California Avenue, at the corner of El Camino Real. It offers eye exams and contact lens fitting and runs an eyewear showroom in the same office. The practice says its roots go back to San Francisco and Marin County in the mid-1970s. It has practiced in Palo Alto since 1992 and later moved to its current California Avenue location.

As its name suggests, contact lenses are a large part of the practice. Its website says the doctors have long experience in teaching and research on contact lenses, in clinical and university settings that include California Pacific Medical Center and the contact lens clinic at the UC Berkeley School of Optometry.

The optometrists and staff

The practice lists two optometrists:

• Dan A. Baggett, O.D. The practice says he graduated from the UC Berkeley School of Optometry. He has taught as an assistant clinical professor at UC Berkeley and as an associate professor of ophthalmology at California Pacific Medical Center, where he also ran the contact lens clinic. His biography notes service as an Army optometry officer.
• Shawna Lovering, O.D. She earned her optometry degree and a post-graduate degree in vision science at UC Berkeley. The practice says she completed externships in ocular pathology and low vision at VA medical centers in San Francisco and Palo Alto and specialty contact lens work at UCSF.

Opticians and frame stylists Archal Devi and Jessica Gray help patients choose frames and lenses and assist contact lens patients. The practice says its staff speaks English.

Services

The services page lists:

• Comprehensive eye examinations
• Contact lens evaluation, fitting and specialty lenses
• Diagnosis and treatment of eye disease
• Laser surgery consultation and co-management
• Evaluation of computer-related eyestrain
• Frame styling, custom sun clips and minor frame repair

The practice also prescribes sports eyewear such as swim goggles. It offers safety eyewear that meets ANSI and OSHA standards for people who face hazards at work. For hard-to-fit contact lens cases, it lists keratoconus, post-surgical eyes (including transplants) and extremely flat corneas. Its contact lens range covers soft disposable and rigid gas permeable lenses, including toric, bifocal and progressive designs. Outside prescriptions are welcome. This page describes services only and is not medical advice.

The eyewear showroom

The office has a designer showroom with frames from a long list of brands. The practice names labels such as LA Eyeworks, Prada, Gucci, Tom Ford, Silhouette, Saint Laurent, Tiffany and Co., OGA, ic! berlin, Maui Jim, Oakley, Ray-Ban and Nike. It also carries children's frames, magnetic sun clips and sport goggles. Lenses cover single vision, bifocal, trifocal and progressive prescriptions. Stock changes, so call ahead if you are looking for a specific brand.

Appointments, insurance and payment

The most important thing to know: every visit is by appointment, with no exceptions. The practice applies that rule to frame selection, frame adjustments and picking up finished glasses or contacts, not only to eye exams. Call 650-617-2020 to schedule. Patient forms can be downloaded from the website.

The practice says it participates with VSP and accepts selected other plans, including EyeMed, MES (Medical Eye Services) and MES Vision. It asks patients to check with staff about other coverage. It accepts cash, personal checks, Mastercard and Visa. If you are using a vision plan, have your member details ready when you call.

Tips for visiting

• Book even a quick adjustment or pickup in advance, since the office does not take walk-ins.
• The practice says the Stanford Marguerite shuttle stops in front of the office at El Camino Real and California Avenue. The California Avenue Caltrain station is within walking distance.
• Bring your current glasses, contact lens boxes or prescription and your vision plan details.
• Pair the appointment with a stop on the California Avenue strip, where you will find cafes and the Sunday farmers market described in our farmers market guide.
• For buses, bikes and parking, see getting around Palo Alto.

Location and getting there

California Avenue Optometry is at 456 South California Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94306, in the California Avenue area of Palo Alto. Our California Avenue guide covers what else is around.

The nearest train stop is the California Avenue Caltrain station, about 0.3 miles away. That is roughly a 7 minute walk.

Parking: street spaces and city garages with posted limits (see parking in Palo Alto).

Hours

Hours from the business's own website, checked October 29, 2026.

What is nearby

• Lee Aldinger Insurance, firm, under 0.1 mi
• Jin Sho, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
• Terún Pizzeria, restaurant, under 0.1 mi
• Backyard Brew, cafe, under 0.1 mi
• Christian Science Reading Room, shop, under 0.1 mi
• College Terrace Library, 0.2 mi
• Bowden Park, 0.4 mi
• Peers Park, 0.4 mi

Other health and medical nearby: Palo Alto Eyeworks (under 0.1 mi); Endodontic Associates of Palo Alto (under 0.1 mi); Select Physical Therapy (under 0.1 mi); Blue Turtle Dental (0.1 mi). Browse the full health and medical list.

Before you go

• Call ahead to confirm the practice accepts your insurance and is taking new patients.
• Bring a photo ID, your insurance card and a list of current medications to a first visit.
• For emergencies call 911. Stanford Hospital's emergency department is the closest major emergency room for most of Palo Alto.

About this listing

Checked October 29, 2026 against California Ave Optometry official website; Our practice page; Our services page; Location page. How our listings work. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

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